How To Beat The New England Patriots
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 2, 2009 10:12 AM EDT
20 comments
This week's matchup does not allow the readers to respond with what they said about last week's game against the Cleveland Browns, where many thought all the Baltimore Ravens needed to do was just show up. While that might have ended up true last week, it certainly won't be enough to beat the Patriots in their home crib this Sunday.
However, if the Ravens team that played last week shows up for this week's game and plays the same way, the Ravens can absolutely leave Gillette Stadium with an impressive victory and make a major statement about their legitimate claim as one of the best teams in the NFL so far this year.
(More on "How To Beat The New England Patriots" after the 'Jump')
Both teams are highly rated and thought to be legitimate playoff contenders this year after finishing 11-5 in the 2008 regular season, although the Pats missed out on the post season. Remember, these are the New England Patriots that went 16-0 in the regular season only two years ago. However, this is not the same Patriots squad that is playing now as a lot has transpired in their ranks that have left a dent their armor this year. QB Tom Brady is back after missing nearly all of the 2009 season with a knee injury, although he just doesn't seem to be completely healthy based on his missing targets that he normally was a lock to hit. The Pats traded DT Richard Seymour to Oakland for the Raiders first round draft pick and while that was a great trade for New England, it left a hole in their trenches. Combined with the fact that NT Vince Wilfork may miss Sunday's game puts the Ravens in position to enjoy a huge advantage in the trenches on offense. The LB corps of the Pats has been hit hard with the retirement of Tedy Bruschi and the injury to Jerod Mayo, and without them the front seven's ability to slow down the Ravens rushing attack and put pressure on the QB is greatly diminished.
These issues lead me to believe that the Ravens offense will be able to move the ball and put points on the board against the Patriots defense. But in order to win this game, the key will be whether or not the Ravens defense can limit the New England offense enough to prevent them from scoring more than we do. The Ravens defense is basically the same, if not better than the one that almost upset the Pats in that classic 2007 game during their undefeated regular season (that game is on the NFL Network tonight). The Ravens were horrible that year and still almost pulled off the upset. If we can come close to playing with that same fervor, then we will have a shot to win in New England, where the Pats have the NFL's best home record since the 2000 season, just ahead of the Indianapolis Colts and our Baltimore Ravens.
Don't expect the Patriots running game to have any more success against the Ravens as the rest of the league has had this season, much less for the past 38 games where no one player has rushed for over 100 yards against this defense. Limiting Tom Brady and the Pats passing attack will obviously be the key to this game. Keep Randy Moss out of the end zone and do not let TE Ben Watson get behind our safeties and we should be fine. Wes Welker should play but he is not the TD threat that the other two are. Welker can move the chains though, and is the speed threat across the middle and has great hands. Most likely, I see the Ravens fastest DB, Fabian Washington on Welker and Domonique Foxworth covering Moss, with help from Ed Reed in back of him. Dawan Landry should match up against Watson, unless we are in a nickel, dime or dollar packages with more DB's out there to provide additional coverage. Of course, turnovers could play a huge part in deciding this game, as both teams have been opportunistic on defense in thus category.
I like the Ravens chances and while this is by far our toughest game so far, we came through with a tough road victory earlier this season against the San Diego Chargers, which was predicted by many to be a road loss for the Ravens. At the same time, in New England's toughest game so far, they failed to beat the New York Jets on the road, against the Ravens former defensive coordinator, whose defensive gameplan should be repeated by the Ravens this Sunday. If Baltimore executes like they have so far this season, there is no reason that we can't outmuscle the Patriots and emerge from week four still undefeated and remain atop the AFC North.
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I ant wait.
2009 Tom Brady has yet to even remotely resemble 2007 Tom Brady at this point, but he is indeed Tom Brady and he always presents a threat when he steps onto the field. With that said…I see no reason the ravens shouldnt come out of New England with a victory, regardless of the Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker show. Two banged up wideouts and a off QB, throw in a weak defense and I think Baltimores offense moves the ball easily and the defense holds the Patriots to a lower score. Ive heard comparisons about the Pats shutting down Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, good job, but we are not the Atlanta falcons, at all. Joe Flacco and our 3 headed monster is a much bigger threat, we get the win, I cant wait.
Scott Hines
by shines on Oct 2, 2009 11:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Atlanta's offensive and defensive lines
do not compare with Baltimore’s. Also, the different rushers we can throw at NE is so much more varied than what the Falcons did.
Defensively, on the Falcons’ John Abraham could start on the front seven of the Ravens. Enough said.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 2, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Exactly.
And not to mention, I give The Jets and ol’ turkey neck all the credit in the world for doing what theyre doing, its impressive…but lets be real here, the jets are nowhere near us right now. Other than one corner-back, we are more talented and simply better at every position. The Jets won their Superbowl in week 2, thats how they won. We are coming into town to win the game, not a Superbowl, no trash talking, none of that, were just going to come in and punch them in the mouth, really hard.
Scott Hines
by shines on Oct 2, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Patriots Will End Our 100-yard Rusher Streak
We will get such constant pressure up the middle, Brady will scramble around the tackles for 107 yards. He will pass for 53.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
by Ampallang on Oct 2, 2009 12:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I'll take that trade-off
for a win.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 2, 2009 12:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Here we go. My way has worked so far.
Score more points than they do.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 2, 2009 12:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
If we don’t follow through with this, Harbaugh’s really going to look stupid.
Water covers 2/3 of the Earth's surface. Ed Reed covers the rest.
by Ampallang on Oct 2, 2009 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why even do a write up?
My strategy is all you need? Lol. I have yet to be wrong.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 2, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yea It Is Going To Get Pretty Ugly If Harbaugh Does Not Take My Advice.
You have to hate losing more than you love winning.
by Mr MaLoR on Oct 2, 2009 4:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That's one of Belichick's favorite press conference responses, lol
no wonder why he’s such a media darling.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Oct 2, 2009 4:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The Jets did it best
The Jets and Baltimore have identical defensive schemes. Baltimore will have even more success due to the natural talent on their team. Look for constant and unrelenting pressure on Brady and his Bunch, and watch his passer rating tank this weekend. Moss will have 2 catches for minimal yardage this weekend.
by Farorefox on Oct 2, 2009 6:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just got done watching NFL Replay of that crappy game...
The ONLY reason the Pattis won is because fatso Rex ran a 3 man rush every 4th down. How nice of him to learn to blitz 5 this year. Ray Lewis did nothing during that final drive except stand paralyzed by stupid play calling. Jackass Ryan cost us that game. I think he wanted Billick out. It worked…maybe we thank him. So confused. The holding on Rolle and our other DB were BOTH suspect. The Patties won’t have the refs trumpeting a perfect season this year. Beat Tom Blitz Tom.
by raven on Oct 2, 2009 11:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
watched the game again too last night
Tough, close game – could have gone either way the whole game.
Don’t give the Pats crap about the refs being on their side – Want to talk bogus calls? New England played the unbeaten Colts three weeks earlier and the Pats, who had been the most-disciplined, least-penalized team so far were flagged for 146 yards on 10 penalties, vs the Colts getting flagged for 25 yards on 4 penalties. Notice a little difference there?
McGahee couldn’t be stopped until the last half of the fourth quarter. Period. He was a beast that night and the Patriots defense had no answer for him. Baltimore stopped Wes Welker pretty well, and had Moss covered most of the time too. There were a few good passes, but the winds that night made it a grind-it-out running game.
Brady was hit a lot too. The only times he could beat the blitz was when he got the pass off super quick, and even then he got hit. Matt Light had a tough time protecting that side all night long. I could point to a couple of dropped passes in the end zone that Brady threw right on the money as the reason the game was so close, but it all came down to that infamous ‘Time Out’ called at the end. Lewis had every right to be furious.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Oct 3, 2009 9:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
One other thing about the game
I can’t tell you how annoyed I was at the constant chatter of Tony Kornheiser during the game. Forget the presence of Don Shula in the booth too, that was just beyond grating. Kicking TK off of MNF has been the best thing ever.
Keep the faith!
by Marima on Oct 3, 2009 9:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kornface
T.K. makes me want to kill myself. Most annoying announcer ever.
by Farorefox on Oct 3, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
See Billick's face?
On those timeouts and penalties on 4th down that would have iced it for us!? That look says it all. He knew he was gone at that point and just wanted the damn season and that nightmare to be over for him.
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 3, 2009 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
BB
After this game you will see why they call Bill Belichick the best coach in football.
by DirtyDog on Oct 2, 2009 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
and then
what might they call him after they lose? Either way, he’s a good coach and no one here on The Beatdown would disagree with that. We just don’t think you’ve got the “horses” to stay in the “race.”
aka 'Rexx'
by Bruce Raffel on Oct 3, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, I hear he holds good practices after game days.
by raven on Oct 2, 2009 11:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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